Announcing the 'Kitchen Treasure Hunt' Event!

This event is now closed. The round-up has been posted in two parts.
Part 1 - entries from non-bloggers.
Part 2 - entries from bloggers.

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We invite you to participate in the Kitchen Treasure Hunt!

Isn't it but natural that all of us, who love cooking, also have an interest in cookware, kitchen accessories and gadgets? While shopping, we can't resist browsing the kitchen appliances section, or taking a quick look the crockery & cutlery shops. At fairs, and local farmer markets, crowds quickly gather around cooking gadget stalls to see how quickly onions, carrots and other vegetables get sliced, chopped, diced, and shred in a jiffy! At museums we seem drawn to the ancient urns, nut crackers and other early kitchen implements!

Today there are no limits to the evolution of kitchen gadgets and aids, from electric cookers, non-stick pans and even 'Ragi Mudde making’ machines'!!

While these innovations are exciting, it is always really interesting to look at some traditional cookware as well. If you've been reading our blog, many posts show some of the traditional vessels and equipment that were (and are) being used.

Recently we came across some very unusual uses of equipment as well. Did you know that your dishwasher can be used to cook?!!!! Take a look at this!!

Chitra Amma and I were chatting, and our curiosity and interest in looking at old and new cookware, and other kitchen treasures around the world led us to announce this KITCHEN TREASURE HUNT event!

What can be submitted?
We invite you to send us entries on any cooking / dining/ food storage utensils, kitchen implements, gadgets, and so on. They can be items you possess, or maybe you’ve seen it at your grandmother’s place, or perhaps during any of your travels. It can be from ANY COUNTRY OF ORIGIN.

- They can be traditional, or ethnic vessels.

- They can be new, but perhaps some uncommon innovations. What is common in one part of the globe, is not common another।- so feel free to send in your posts anyway! For example a lotta and dabara is so common in South India for drinking coffee & tea, its not so anywhere else! We did a browse for Japanese teacups, to cite as an example here, and were overwhelmed to find more varieties than we could imagine !!!

- They can be unusual use of equipment in cooking, like the diswasher salmon example above!

It is okay to send in posts on electrical appliances; however the idea is not to just land up with a collection of the latest toasters, refrigerators and ovens! If you think it is interesting for the world to know about, then do send it in!

At minimum your posts should include details about:
- Name of utensil/ appliance / gadget
- Country / Place of origin or where you got from!
- Photo/s or illustration.
- A Description of what it is used for.

Of course, you can make the post verrrrrrrrrry interesting by showing photos or even video of the gadgets in action if possible. Include any information you want to share about it – what is it made of? Any special maintenance required? How useful is it? What’s good? What’s not? What make it unusual? Any associated anecdotes, memories or incidents that you want to share are most welcome.

What do you need to do?
- Make a fresh and independent post on your blog. Please link back to this event in Chitra Amma's Kitchen. We’d happy if you used the logo, but its optional! We’ve provided three different colour schemes for you to choose from.

- Ensure that your entries and photographs are original, and do not violate any copyrights.

- Drop us a mail with a link to your post at chitra.ammas.kitchen@gmail.com or chitra(dot)ammas(dot)kitchen(dot)com, with the following details.
Your Name:
Name of your post:
URL / Link:
You need not send any details or photos, as we will directly pick it up from your post.

- You may send as many entries as you wish.
- In case you do not have a blog, you are still welcome to participate. You can simply send your entries to our e-mail address at chitra-ammas-kitchen@gmail.com or chitra(dash)ammas(dash)kitchen(dot)com.

- This event is open till 7th December '08, midnight, Sydney, Australia Time (so those in West actually get almost a day in addition). We will post a round up of all the entries within a few days after 7th December
- Feel free to contact us via mail or in the comments section with your questions if any.

So get started on the treasure hunt and take a fresh look at your favourite pots and pans, tongs, grinders, slicers, pasta makers, spoons, and chopsticks, coffee filters, bakeware! We are excited and eagerly look forward to your posts!